Fenerbahçe v Real Madrid: all out for tenth straight EuroLeague win
Today sees the leaders begin a third straight three-game week in Istanbul (6:45pm CET).
Tonight sees Real Madrid travel to Fenerbahçe for the teams' rearranged EuroLeague Round 18 match-up, which was due to have been played on 29 December and was postponed due to the positive COVID-19 cases in the madridista ranks. This contest will be the first of another three games in the space of six days and the seventh match in 15 days for Laso's troops, who go in search of a tenth win in the competition on a floor where they have won on each of the last three visits. Heurtel, Taylor, Hanga and Deck have not travelled.
In the midst of an extremely hectic run of games, with this the third three-game week in a row, our boys face a tough road tip to Istanbul, before hosting Barça in El Clásico and closing out the week with a trip to the Martín Carpena two days later in the league. However, this team thrives in adversity. The Whites lead the way in the EuroLeague with 20 wins from 23 games and is riding a nine-match winning streak. Victory for the guests tonight would represent the third-best winning run in a single season. Meanwhile, Laso's charges are unbeaten on the road this term and have triumphed in Berlin and Monaco. Fenerbahçe lies in 11th with a record of 11 wins and 10 defeats but also comes into this one in fine fettle, after having prevailed in eight of its last nine match-ups. The Turks are undefeated at home in 2022.
In the midst of an extremely hectic run of games, with this the third three-game week in a row, our boys face a tough road tip to Istanbul, before hosting Barça in El Clásico and closing out the week with a trip to the Martín Carpena two days later in the league. However, this team thrives in adversity. The Whites lead the way in the EuroLeague with 20 wins from 23 games and is riding a nine-match winning streak. Victory for the guests tonight would represent the third-best winning run in a single season. Meanwhile, Laso's charges are unbeaten on the road this term and have triumphed in Berlin and Monaco. Fenerbahçe lies in 11th with a record of 11 wins and 10 defeats but also comes into this one in fine fettle, after having prevailed in eight of its last nine match-ups. The Turks are undefeated at home in 2022.
The Turkish team, who are coached by former madridista Djordjevic, have recovered from a poor start and, oddly enough, are producing its best basketball following the injuries to De Colo and Vesely. Guduric and Booker have stepped up to the plate, but the hosts also boast other threats in Henry, Pierre, Polonara, Floyd and Melih. This contest pits two of the EuroLeague's meanest defenses against each other. In offense, Real Madrid nets almost five points more than the Turks, who lie top of the tree for assists per game and success on two-pointers 58.4%. Madrid has the upper hand on rebounds and one of our inside players, Yabusele, has posted double digitis in the scoring stakes in each of the team's last seven wins.
Out to extend the winning run
This evening's match-up will be the 31st EuroLeague meeting between the sides. Real Madrid has the advantage 21 to nine and has been particularly dominant in recent years, having won the last seven games between the pair, including the last three road trips to Istanbul. This season, Madrid downed Fenerbahçe in the reverse game in a 70-69 win following a fightback that Poirier completed with two free throws in the dying stages.
Out to extend the winning run
This evening's match-up will be the 31st EuroLeague meeting between the sides. Real Madrid has the advantage 21 to nine and has been particularly dominant in recent years, having won the last seven games between the pair, including the last three road trips to Istanbul. This season, Madrid downed Fenerbahçe in the reverse game in a 70-69 win following a fightback that Poirier completed with two free throws in the dying stages.